Republican National Convention: T Minus 7

This time next week, the Republican National Convention will have started and the 250,000 protesters will have protested not in Central Park but on the West Side Highway. Mayor Bloomberg brilliantly said that if a West Side Jets stadium were built, then protesters could go there! Clever - now can we see your time machine, Bloomby? We know you have one some where.
Here are a few more Convention related links:
- New Yorkers keep getting hints that we should be leaving the city, but we abide by the philosophy that what doesn't kill us will make us stronger...er...
- Newsday reports that convention handlers have the delicate job of making sure that Giuliani, Pataki, and Bloomberg don't cross each others paths too much...oh, we love city and state politics so much.
- Mayor Bloomberg's swank Upper East Side townhouse is a protest magnet! Last week it was police officers and firefighters, this week it's yippies. According to the NY Times, the yippies were pretty tame, calling him "Bummerberg" and offering Krispy Kreme treats to the police.
- Starbucks employees are told not to wear their barista uniforms off duty, as corporations worry about protesters. NYPD will have more officers outside the 'buck and McDonald's; hopefully the workers won't be too harassed, as they're just trying to make a living.
- The NY Times looked at the different ways protesters are getting the NYC...Gothamist has visions of hitchhikers with signs that say, "Need to get to NY to yell at Republicans," or "Need to support GOP!" on the different sides, to target the message to certain vehicles (Prius gets the protest message, while a big gas-guzzling SUV may be the GOP sympathy vote).

- The New Yorker devotes some ink to the convention: William Finnegan on our city's Republican past, a new Bush quiz, Louis Menand on how voters decide, and, in print only, a guide from the Daily Show team about "What Government Best Suits You?"
- The President may only be in the city for one day, confirming that he really does hate New York. Well, Gothamist just made that up, but it's good fodder for George Bush jokes.
- Georgia Governor and Democrat Zell Miller is the Keynote Speaker, with the theme of the convention Fulfilling America's Promise: Building a Safer World and a More Hopeful America. Gothamist has not the words for that theme...
- Check out Gotham Gazette's convention site.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 23, 2004 12:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Two Dishes

The Fox News billboards are a great welcome to the RNC 2004: http://graphitefurnace.blogs.com/main/2004/08/fox_news_billbo.html

S.D.

Nah, it was a co worker. In General, I make a point of Never talking politics to people to act like it's a Religion. IMO: Talking Politics is *NOT* something to get P'O'ed about. Someone want's to disagree with me, Fine. I don't take it personally, Even when told "You Hate America!". (The best was when I was called a "Commie Pinko!")

In my co worker's case: Being a Republican is pretty much his religion. Mind you, I've met Democrats that equate their party to thier Religion, but not as often.

sp

LOL, let me guess, was it Nola?

S.D.

sp, You Must hate America...

I'm Just Kidding! Someone told me that when I mentioned a Simular gripe against this Administration. I agree with you re: every item on your list.

I don't think the protesters are Anarchist in general. I figure a Small (IMO: less then 10 percent) Percentage will be Anarchists.

Frankenstein

Expect runs on bottle water, batteries, canned food, and duct tape as those of us who are stuck in the city for the duration head to the bunkers for the duration...

sp

what makes you think the protesters are anarchists?!?!?! For the most part they are just regular people who are disgusted with the failed policies and lies of this adminstration, people who are against pre-emptive and unjustified war, people who are against unsound fiscal policies that reward the rich and increase the national deficit and ship jobs overseas, people who are against tampering with the constitution and degradation of civil rights.

S.D.

Sure Anarchists Vote, In a non-organized way...

Hmmm, Maybe the Convention could be moved to the West Side Hwy??

Don

Question:

Do anarchists vote?

Sometimes I get the feeling that many of protestors, especially the younger ones, do it because it's just plain fun, not because they have any heart-felt political convictions.

We'll see what happens next week. I hope nothing that I have to pay for as a taxpayer gets smashed. It's bad enough I have to pay for all this police overtime.

Ari

I'm a total idiot, I know, but since Bloomberg is so excited about an adequate space for the RNC {and using the proposed Jets Stadium as an example} ... maybe someone in his ofc should introduce him to the Javits CONVENTION Center?

Just an idea.